Vehicle Light Guide Lens Layout for Window Crosstalk Isolation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting and signaling devices for motor vehicles suffer from crosstalk between light windows due to continuous, partially translucent light panes, leading to unintended light emission across separate illumination areas, which affects the accuracy of displaying energy status or turn signal functions.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates separate, partially translucent light windows with opaque areas between them, and decoupling elements in the light guides to prevent crosstalk, allowing independent control of light sources and manufacturing the lens in a two-component injection molding process for reduced assembly time and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a continuous, partially translucent light pane is used, then the manufacturing process is simple and the structure is continuous, but light crosstalk occurs between adjacent light windows

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidlight isolation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous light pane is segmented into separate light windows by introducing opaque regions between them. This segmentation prevents light from passing through the entire pane and causes crosstalk, while still maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process through injection molding techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If separate light windows with opaque areas are used, then light crosstalk is prevented, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight isolation accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The separate light windows and opaque regions are merged into a single integrated lens component manufactured in one piece using injection molding. This combining approach maintains the light isolation benefits of separate windows while eliminating the manufacturing complexity of assembling multiple separate parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If multiple separate components are assembled, then light isolation is improved, but assembly time and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight isolationVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple light windows and opaque regions that would traditionally require separate components and assembly steps are merged into a single monolithic lens component. This integration eliminates assembly time and associated costs while maintaining the light isolation properties achieved through separate window design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Productivity

If a one-piece lens is manufactured, then assembly time is reduced and costs are lowered, but light crosstalk prevention becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidcrosstalk prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lens exhibits local quality variations with opaque regions strategically positioned at specific locations to prevent light crosstalk between adjacent light windows. This allows the lens to be manufactured as a single piece while still incorporating localized features that ensure proper light isolation where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively prevents light crosstalk, enabling precise control over light emission for energy status displays and turn signals, with improved assembly efficiency and reduced costs through the use of a one-piece lens and independent light source control.

Implementation Method 1

light fed into the light guides exits via a light exit area in the coupling-out section of the respective light guides

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight propagation: Light

Implementation Method 2

separated from one another by an opaque region

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

at least partially light-permeable regions - hereinafter referred to as light windows

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3450253B1Lighting and/or signalling device for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 ZKW GRP GMBH
  • EP3450253B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3450253B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP3450253B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

Lighting and/or signaling device for a motor vehicle, comprising: - at least two light guides (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) with a light coupling point (112, 122, 132, 142, 152) and an output coupling section (114, 124, 134, 144, 154), and at least one light source (111, 121, 131, 141, 151) assigned to the respective light guides, which feeds light into the respective light guides (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) via the light coupling point and a subsequent supply line section (113, 123, 133, 143, 153), wherein light fed into the light guides is discharged by means of output coupling elements (161) arranged in the output coupling section of the respective light guides via a light exit area in the output coupling section of the respective light guide exits, and - a light disk (200) that is at least partially transparent and is arranged in the direction of light exit after the light guides (110, 120, 130, 140, 150),wherein the light disk (200) has at least two areas separated from each other by an opaque area, which are at least partially transparent - hereinafter referred to as light windows (201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206) - each of which is assigned to at least one of the at least two light guides and whose arrangement in relation to the respective light guides allows at least partial transmission of the light emerging from the light exit area of ​​the respective light guides.